Topic: Sammy Hagar

Sam Roy "Sammy" Hagar (born October 13, 1947), known as "The Red Rocker", is an American rock singer, guitarist, composer and solo artist. Hagar was the second of three singers for Van Halen, as well as the original singer of the early 1970s rock band Montrose. On March 12, 2007, Hagar was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Van Halen. He has had the opportunity to work with some of hard rock's most famous guitarists including Eddie Van Halen, Ronnie Montrose, Neal Schon of Journey, and more recently, Joe Satriani. Outside of music, he is also well-known as the founder of the Cabo Wabo Tequila brand and restaurant chain. He currently resides in Mill Valley, California and also has a residence in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. His present musical project is as lead singer of a hard rock band called Chickenfoot.

Hagar was born in Salinas, California. Although Hagar was born in Salinas, he lived in Fontana, and graduated from Fontana High School. He also took harmonica lessons at "The House of Note" in Redlands, California (circa 1968–1970).

After a brief career as a boxer in the footsteps of his father, Hagar became interested in the burgeoning Southern California music scene, fronting his first band, The Fabulous Catillas.